On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Tue-Sun. 4:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Loading...
Trying to review Donny Dirks Zombie Den inevitably leads to questions I had never considered. What should a zombie themed bar be?
Donny Dirks seems to think its primarily how their staff dresses, as many have noted like a character from "Shaun of the Dead" (a great movie, but more a homage than a pivotal zombie genre flick). I think one or two of mixed drinks mention zombies (not that the drinks themselves have any sort of zombie theme to them). On the tv, "Freaks" was playing (not even a horror movie). Later, they popped in "Dawn of the Dead" (the remake!!!).
Judged as a zombie themed bar, Donny Dirks falls rather short. Then again, how many people would really appreciate a more thoroughly zombified bar? Not many.
However, judged just as a bar, DDZD is pretty bitching.
As many have noted, the decor is fantastic. I especially liked the shiv collection displayed over the men's room urinal. The booths were packed, so I settled into one of the large, cozy seats at the bar.
They have a huge selection of spirits, additives and mixers, and bartenders who seem to know their stuff. That said, I don't understand why they had such an anemic mixed drink list. Five drinks, really? One of which is margarita, one of which is just a glass of straight booze (a tribute to Stand up Franks, the bar's predecessor).
They also have the "weird science" option, as others have noted a high risk go at amateur mixology. My two companions were not particularly pleased with their concoctions. With a little refinement the second go round, I was quite pleased with mine ("Old Spice" - whiskey, molasses/spice liqueur, vanilla syrup and orange bitters).
However, as Val B. noted, this option would probably work a lot better if the bartenders gave you some more direction. Maybe just asking you, "what are you aiming for?" Overall, the bartender was a little distant. We pretty much had to flag him down for every drink (and we were seated front and center at the bar!). He was often mixing right in front of us, so we chatted a little and he was perfectly friendly, just not very attentive on that whole service thing.
I suppose my review seems pretty negative, but overall I really liked Donny Dirk's. There are things I would like to see improved, but its more about polishing the diamond than putting out fires.
This place is cool.
But I feel like the employees KNOW it's cool
and act like it.
They were all kind of douchey to me and my partner in crime.
Except for the shorter, pudgier balding guy.
But that doesn't really count,
shorter, pudgier balding guys are nice to everyone.
Ha.
But he was really cool, actually.
And he compensated for the schmucks at the door
and the spiky haired tattooed bar tender.
Sorry, don't try and pull a superiority complex on me,
I know you work at a cool, hip new bar
and has 'zombie' in the name,
but zombies are played out.
And you will be soon, too.
Decor was dark and swanky, I dug it.
Drinks were different and unique.
And you can order food directly from Psycho Suzies,
which gets a "yum" and a thumbs up from me.
A negative is that the women's bathroom is single serving only,
so be prepared to wait, ladies.
A positive is that they play old B horror movies.
I got to sit there and watch "Basket Case" while drinking.
Awesome.
But yeah, I was rubbed wrong with the snobbery from the employees.
I would like to think that you have to have good customer service
and that you can't survive on gimmick alone. . .
but then I remember that this is the sister bar of Psycho Suzies.
So I cry a little in defeat
as cordial behavior from staff towards patrons goes out the window
at yet another hot spot in Minneapolis.
Damn you, fucking trend bars!!!!!!!
Also, the shirts were cool at first,
until I realized how uniform they truly are.
Each white shirt has a blood stain on the right hip.
Which is dumb, if you think about it.
What zombie in their right undead mind attacks the hip?
I asked the bar tender if he was attacked by a midget zombie
and he sort of scoffed at me.
So then I asked him if the zombie was trying to attack the only
working brain on his body . . . . .
get it?
Yup, penis joke.
Check it out,
it's worth a stop in.
But I definitely won't be making this a main attraction.
It's out in the middle of butt-fucking nowhere
and a few of the employees are -meh-.
I can't really speak for the waitresses though,
I didn't get to experience them.
They were looking pretty gorgeous in their Elvira-esque dresses.
Yeah, Yelp! Thank you for introducing me to this place before it got so popular that getting a seat would prove difficult.
As Rachel G said, swank appeal is very high. Absolutely loved the decor. Loved it.
Enjoyed the "weird science" aspect...very mixologist in that they have tons of tubes filled with housemade biters, different alcohols infusing with interesting additions. I was especially curious about the bubblegum vodka, but opted to save that for another date. Had the peach sugar cube bitter infusion with the champagne. Yummy. Draught beers were poured into heavy intense glasses.
All the drinks seemed reasonably priced and a lot of fun. I love the use of old school glassware.
Donny Dirks would be the type of place hat I'd love to go for a first date. Fun, sexy, and a bit random.
I just came from this place, and I gotta say, I was really impressed. One of my friends suggested it because he had heard some good things about it, so we decided to meet for some drinks.
First off, the zombie bar aspect is not as over-the-top as you would expect. It's actually kind of subdued. If you spent a couple hours there, you would forget that it's a zombie-themed bar.
Nonetheless, the place is fantastic. They have some good tap beers, and an impressive bottle selection. We ordered food from Psycho Suzi's on the red phone, and it came hot and fresh. The bartenders were very helpful and friendly. The atmosphere was very laid-back, where I didn't feel crowded and in a rush to drink and get out quickly.
Overall, I would highly recommend it. I will definitely be back.
I won't lie. The term "Zombie Den" had me a little nervous. Zombies? Me? Will I be nervous? Will I enjoy my time.
Fear not, Yelpers, this place is a great place for any type of patron. The ambiance is very chic, mirrored-like ceilings and oversized booths (get to know your neighbor & share a table!). The staff was very friendly and the drinks were flowing.
And, dare I say as a plus, there was some odd vampire inspired porn being played on one of the screens. Made for great entertainment!
Swank appeal = very high.
Stopped in on a random Tuesday...Felt like I could get into a LOT of fun trouble here...had a White Russian. Smooth. Then I had their champagne cocktail. Tasted both the Rhubarb and the Grapefruit. For 5 bucks - awesome. All they do is drop a flavored sugar cube - ala Absinthe style - and the bubble keep coming and bringing a flavor punch with it. Great glassware - old school cocktail glasses
Great place for a night cap - Keep it in mind on our way home from NE or Downtown.
This one is fun.
This place is trying too hard, it makes me a little sad.
This is a pretty great theme bar in a pretty shitty part of town. I'm hoping it paves the way for a revitalization. Mainly because I live around here and want some other sweet places like this to move in.
It certainly looks the part of the zombie den. Maybe "vampire den" is more apt, because it's dark as hell in there. The vibe is Psycho Suzies all the way, cleaned up a smidge but the aesthetics are about the same. Plus you can order food from PS and have it delivered. One of my party did this, and it went off without a hitch.
Drinks are interesting but not in my usual rotation. The Donny Dirk is creamy and cinnamon-y, but be warned that you should stick to this and not attempt to mix other alcohol with it. For example, the bubblegum vodka shot. I think the mixture curdled in my stomach. I take full responsibility for my awful night/morning.
Val B. did the Weird Science and came out with the best drink of the night. They keep it on file, so ask for the Dickbag. It was like a yummier and more refreshing Cosmo. Do not ask for the Garden of Eden (Eatin') Brains or the Red Eye.
Had a great time, and would definitely come back.
This bar is a win for many reasons.
Donny Dirks resides in the Hawthorne neighborhood of North Minneapolis off West Broadway and North 2nd St. The general feel of the establishment has kind of 1940s art deco style . It sort of reminds me of the hotel bar in The Shining. Near the exit, there is a chainsaw enclosed in glass for "in case of a zombie attack", and the mens room contains a collection of prison shanks above the urinal trough.
Above the bar is a bright neon sign reading "Undead Frank Lives", a nod to the former Stand Up Franks. When you enter the bar, the "Stand Up" namesake makes sense, because the establishment is quite small. I could see it become a bit insane on weekends. The booth seating along the wall is quite comfortable.
The bar does not have a full kitchen, but you can use the "Grub Line" to order food from Psycho Suzis, which is delivered to you. Kick ass idea, methinks.
The beer selection seems pretty plentiful, and you get your drinks in large goblets.
Personally, I really hope this place does well. Its the sort of spot the Northside needs...because its the type of bar you cant find just anywhere else.
Hipster bar in a high crime area of North Minneapolis, near 94 and Broadway. I wouldn't worry about any trouble in the bar as this place is more yuppie art student friendly than the CC club.
At 5:30 on a Thursday, there was not an open seat in the house. It's a pretty small space, so it doesn't take a whole lot to fill it up. Very cool decoration and zombie theme. It's a pretty slick looking bar.
One complaint. The sink in the men's room is in a tiny corner about 1/2 and inch from the trough urinal, meaning you have to squeeze past dudes pissing, if you want to wash your hands.
Good bartenders, they will make anything they have the ingredients for. You can write down a list of ingredients and they will make a cocktail for $8. They were also very quick at getting drinks, even though the place was full.
They have quite a few speciality cocktails all for around $8, strength level about matches the price. They have a few fancy rare bottled beers. Most tap beer runs around $5, Old Style tall boys for 3.50 for the budget drinker.
Five stars? You better believe it! All I could say when I walked in was WOW! You would never expect such an amazing place from the outside.
You really have to go to experience the whole package. From the amazing interior to the classic cocktailing, the place is already an instant hit with the underground crowd. The drinks are done right, prices are good, and while there's no food on site you can pick up a big red "Bat Phone" that rings over to Psycho Suzi's and have food delivered right to the bar. The crew working here is perfect, from the cocktailers to the bartenders, and even the security team that has the door open for you before you can even reach for the handle.
A much needed dress code is enforced, such as no hats and no sleeveless shirts. Given the neighborhood and the atmosphere that they have created, it's completely reasonable.
This will definitely be my hang out from now on...
I didn't have any food when visiting here, just a meet up for some drinks.
A different place to check out that is not like all your other bars. The bar atmosphere is fun and everybody is in a good mood when you walk through the doors. The bartenders are all dressed like the dude in "shaun of the dead".
The only downside is the restroom in the mens room with the trough filled with ice, next to the sink. It was probably one of their only options based on design and it is what it is.
This place is definitely unique. Mirror-tile on the walls, tiger-striped carpet, deer head with an orange pompadour... all that, with a touch of zombie theme added in. This place has a nice cozy feel to it.
I would highly recommend checking this place out, if you are in the Minneapolis area.
I posted more than 40 pictures on my website, if you would care to see them: http://www.hauntedilli...
Wow, this place truly rocks. Great staff, no attitude, plenty of drink options, really tasty frozen (!) pizza, and decorations galore. Parking in the back. The neighborhood was industrial but hardly frightening. No dive bar this...
One can also order food from Psycho Suzy's (with a credit card) but the in-house frozen pizza was a more than adequate accompaniment to the smart cocktails and various other libations.
Be sure to check out the glass case near the door...love this place's sensibility and humor.
I'm torn. I love the decor, love the premise, love the strangely cozy feeling of this den - but something about it just wasn't 5-star-worthy. Maybe it's the specialty drink selection - I found it a little weak.
We arrived around 9 PM on a Friday, and were the last crew to be let in before it was at capacity. "Capacity" is relative - I think their definition is every chair is full, not like there's no walking room a la U Otter Stop In. You definitely want to get there early, considering they were at their aforementioned "capacity" at 9 PM and there were intermittent lines to get in the bar starting shortly after that. You also want a smaller group - the booths sit about 5-6 but we managed to grab some chairs and squeeze I think 8 in. A group at a table was about to leave, so we snagged the table in the back. Not the best for people watching but we were relatively unbothered.
The decor is gothic strip club meets Midwestern basement. There are deer heads above the bar, with smokey mirror-tiled walls and leopard print carpeting. Bathrooms are perfect to murder someone in, complete with shanks (yes, shanks) on the walls.
Our waitress was alright - she recommended the Donny Dirk, which was kind of a White Russian-y chocolate-cookie-type drink ($6). It was good, not chuggable good, but tasty enough, though one friend hated it. Others tried the bubblegum vodka shot. Smell=10 points. Taste=0 points. It just tasted like Fleischman's, and not even bubblegum flavored Fleischman's. Another co-patron tried the champagne cocktail with rhubarb syrup, which was tasty but pretty small ($5). She swore it tasted of bacon, but it didn't. Lastly, a friend sampled the margarita, and it was actually good (can't remember the price, maybe $8).
I opted for Weird Science, which is a mix-your-own drink-type thing. It was actually a little stressful. For $9, you want it to be good, but it's upt to you to pick the right thing, and you don't want to just go with something tried-and-true-that-definitely-works-but-it's-bori ng because you're paying $9 for the damn thing. The liquors are on one side of the legal-paper-sized list, with syrups, mixers, and other flavorings on the other. A lot to choose from, adding to the anxiety. I made a vodka-pomegranate liqueur-rosewater-elderberry-lemonade martini-ish thing, henceforth named "The Dickbag." My drink was great. Other experiments in the Weird Science field were mixed. Bacardi silver with four types of berry syrup and sprinkles ("In the Garden of Eden Brains") - yes please! Midori, rum, grapefruit, with a milky red floater ("The Bloodshot Eye") - still shuddering. I wish they could like, veto bad sounding combinations, but I also feel like it's your responsibility to not mix Midori and grapefruit juice. The cool part about Weird Science is they keep your recipe on file, so I can go back and order the Dickbag, and you can too! They feature one patron's concoction every week.
The best deal is the beer. For around $3.75, you get an 18 oz challis worthy of being Lil John's pimp cup. Very heavy though.
Our waitress was semi attentive - we weren't slamming drinks after all, but we did go empty sometimes. It was cool that you could order food from Psycho Suzi's from an Oval Office-commander-in-cheif-type red phone.
Overall it gets a 3-3.5. I had fun but probably won't be running back there soon.
a zombie bar in name only.
mixology does not equal throw everything you can think of in an alcohol and let it sit for 6 weeks (e.g. jalapeno, apple, onion vodka).
mixology does not equal let your guests figure out how to make their drinks for themselves and then sell it to them at exorbitantly high prices.
i thought this place as okay. it's a comfortable little bar located near north.
but its not really a zombie bar nor is it a mixology bar.
I've been there several times. I've have always gone there earlier in the night where we got a booth. It's really small so if you want to get in without waiting you better go early. Really not very good for groups of 4 or more. It's really small. It totally reminded me of the Peppermill Fireside lounge in Las Vegas. The servers in evening dresses, the mirrored walls the cocktails. Way more fun during the week. If it's "at capacity" walk over to Haleks across the parking lot. That's a fun bar as wel and about 1/3 the price.
A great selection of booze with some very good bartenders. A menu of creative house drinks, a whole bunch of crazy options, and all the standbys--replete with hot hipsters in a swanky atmosphere. Bar snacks would be good, but the bat phone to Psycho Suzie's is adequate.
So, I had seen the Star Tribune's article on Donny Dirk's and thought I would give it a try.It's the same owner as Psycho Suzies it has to be cool.
Well 1st thing. I walked up to the bouncer at the door and he said there is a dress code "no baseball hats". The first thing that comes to mind "What the hell are you kidding me?" I can understand a dress code at a nightclub and that they want to keep the thugs out , but a bar in North Minneapolis.I have lived in NYC and Chicago where dress codes are enforced at many niteclubs ,but never have I been asked to take off my hat a just a bar!! Anyways I go inside eventually and the bar is pretty well designed , but small. The decor is well put together , but the Only thing that would make this a Zombie Bar would be the zombie movies playing on the TV's. If you were to walk into this place not knowing it had a zombie theme, you would have no idea from the interior of it. The bartender was friendly and gave good service.Drinks were moderately priced.After going to Donny Dirks Zombie Den I really had to ask myself why would I go back? Just because it's new dosn't make it fabulous.
Donny Dirk's Zombie Den..... at the old Stand-Up Franks location.. Opened last Saturday. This place is best visited. I can't describe it besides that it is above and beyond cool. Totally underground. Best place to go to in the Twin Cities to sit back and enjoy an old school cocktail or beer with your squeeze or some friends...
We live in the North Mpls (NOMI) neighborhood and stopped in this last weekend to support our new neighborhood business. GREAT atmosphere, fun, hip and immaculate inside! Service was very attentive and friendly, reasonably priced drinks. This will be the new happy hour spot for girls night out! I hear they deliver food from Psycho Suzies too!
